Creating a beautiful garden in a small space is all about smart design and creative solutions. Whether you have a tiny backyard, a compact patio, or a balcony, you can transform your outdoor area into a stunning, lush retreat.
With these stunning small garden ideas, you can transform any limited outdoor space into a beautiful, relaxing haven. Whether you prefer lush greenery, a delicious herb garden, or stylish modern aesthetics, every small garden has a design solution. Continue below to get some spectacular small garden ideas to help you maximize your space.
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1. Create A Modern Zen Garden.
Create a small zen garden in your backyard, offering a peaceful escape with succulents and a water feature. The freestanding wall is an Ipe wood fence with Golden Goddess Bamboo behind. The concrete pavers are made by Stepstone Inc. They are sitting on a concrete base to ensure they don’t move. The artificial grass is SYNLawn’s SYNAugustine line. (via Studio H Landscape Architecture)
2. Add A Focal Point.
A once-forgotten side yard turns into a charming gravel garden in Cardiff by the Sea, California. The jar focal point was picked up at a local nursery. Costs range between $90 – $200. The vine on the wall is a creeping fig, ficus pumila. Creeping fig is beautiful. It gives an old-world charm. The purple flower spikes are Liriope muscari ‘Big Blue’. The white flowering plants are Impatiens.
The border is 1″ x 4′ redwood. The landscape designer recommends 2″ x 4″ redwood for gravel borders inside, as it is more stable and keeps its position better than the 1 x 4 products. A similar paint color match for the door is SW6187 Rosemary or SW6188 Shade Grown. TIP: Once the creeping fig attaches to the wall, it is very difficult to remove, and it leaves marks on the wall, so make sure you are happy with its placement before planting it. They also get very invasive over time. (via Debora Carl Landscape Design)
3. Define Your Space.
The garden’s perimeter stone is 4″ x 12″ tumbled Cherokee. The stone defines this garden, which showcases a variety of lettuces. (via Jonathan Raith Inc.)
4. Grow An Organic Vegetable Garden.
A cedar fence surrounds raised cedar garden beds, container herbs, and custom steel planters with succulents. This compact space provides a controlled environment for growing the veggies, herbs, and succulents while enchanting visual appeal. (via Revolution Landscape)
5. Birdhouse Garden and Garden Shed.
A birdhouse designed by Walpole Outdoors is the focal point of this backyard garden. The post height allows for ample room for tall perennials. The shed has attained a lovely patina, that includes moss growth on the roof. Vintage watering cans on the side of the shed complete the garden theme. The dark and light blue perennials around the post are delphiniums. The yellow daylily in front of them is ‘Happy Returns’ and blooms from May till frost.
The grass in the foreground is Carex ‘Evergold’. The blue flower in the middle front of the bed is catmint, Nepeta “Blue Wonder’. On either side of the catmint are hardy geranium ‘Max Frei’. There are 2 types of grass with blue foliage: Blue oat grass (Helictotrichon s. ‘Sapphire’) and Blue fescue (Festuca glauca ‘Elija Blue’). Behind that are clumps of Sedum ‘Autumn Joy’ and more daylily ‘Happy Returns’
The tall white perennial in front of the fence is ‘Becky’ Daisy. The center of the bed is often planted with tall annuals for all summer-long colors. (via Garden Tech Horticultural Services)
6. Decorate With A Large Pot.
This lovely Mediterranean-style garden features a rustic glazed Vietnamese pot, available at your local nursery or wholesale pottery store. This one was salvaged from the site, which was previously used as a fountain. The cascading plant over the retainer wall in the foreground (in front of the pot) is Lotus berthelotii; the one behind the pot is Penstemon ‘Sour Grapes’. The name of the salmon-colored flower on the bank is the Alstroemeria ‘Tall Pink’, and it is available at San Marcos Growers. (via Grace Design Associates)
7. Elevate Your Planters.
This elegant garden scene features three ornate stone planters from Haddonstone on brick pedestals, surrounded by manicured hedges and lush greenery, creating a formal and sophisticated outdoor space. Perfect for those wanting a simple garden decor idea that can fit in limited space yet create an eye-catching focal point. You can use a plastic urn planter or this lightweight planter as an alternative. The garden fencing was custom fabricated. (via Exterior Worlds Landscaping & Design)
8. Use Containers to Create a “Garden”.
This small container garden is the perfect solution if you reside in a condo, apartment, or townhouse or just have a small backyard. The grouping of planters can help you delineate your small garden even if you do not have grass. This can also help you to add some privacy to your outdoor haven. You can grow vegetables or herbs for farm-to-table or add your favorite flowers for some colorful blooms. (via Paul Dyer for Tucker & Marks Design)
9. Small Garden For Entertaining.
The patio was created with a Paver by Anchor called Aston. The color is called “walnut color, ” a blend of varying colors chosen to match the bluestone used for the wide walk leading into the yard. The paver patio gives the homeowners an entertainment and dining space. The plant bed between the wall and the patio gives the homeowners a space to plant seasonal colors and an edible garden.
Down the right side of the fence are Holmstrup Arborvitae, a Jane Magnolia, and Annabelle Hydrangeas; the two corner trees in the back are Red Jewel Crabapples, and three shrubs are Dwarf Winged Euonymus; on the left side and around the custom water feature are a Miss Kim Lilac, Autumn Joy Sedum, Little Spire Perovskia, Big Sky Echinacea, Slowmound Pine, Karl Foerster Feather Reed Grass, and Walker’s Low Nepeta. The width of the beds is about 4 feet.
The bed closest to the patio is about 4 1/2 feet. The homeowner has added annuals for this zone, including nasturtium, petunias, impatiens, and a kitchen herb garden next to the dining patio. (via Southview Design)
10. Compact Water Feature.
All a water feature to create a soothing ambiance that can mask traffic noise while helping to maintain a small footprint. The aesthetic of this garden in Washington, DC, was inspired by the homeowner’s travels to Asia. (via Horn & Co.)
11. Add Lights To A Courtyard Garden.
This small courtyard garden of just 430 square feet offers the perfect green oasis. It features an artificial lawn surrounded by powder-coated planters, a bespoke wooden console and storage/seating bench, retro white soft furnishings, and overhead string lights; all amongst the evergreen planting and a green wall. (via Helen Fickling for Kate Gould Gardens)
12. Build an Arbor.
Add an arbor covered in climbing vines to create a focal point in your small garden. The arbor was custom-made in Woodstock, NY. The arbor leads into a lush garden that features an array of blooming flowers, including the dark red foliage at the back of the garden — Red Coleus. (via Bloom Landscape Design and Fine Gardening)
13. Create A Mirror Illusion.
Strategically place a mirror to reflect greenery and create an illusion of a larger garden. This small enclosed garden is accessed via the kitchen of a small home in Greenwich Village, New York, which features ivy topiary. (via Fairfax & Sammons Architecture)
14. Create A Secret Garden.
The homeowners were looking for an outdoor space with a secret garden feeling. With a “less is more” approach to the design of this backyard, the landscape designer incorporated climbing roses, hydrangeas, and lilies surrounding a bluestone terrace. This small, suburban garden feels both expansive and intimate. Japanese forest grass softens the edge of the terrace and adds just enough of a modern look to make the garden’s owners, urban transplants, happy. (via Westover Landscape Design)
15. DIY A Bubble Fountain Feature.
This is a pot turned into a fountain. The glazed pot was set up on a pre-fab concrete pump housing in a 4′ diameter pre-fab concrete pond. The pot was purchased from Asian Ceramics (Duarte, CA – wholesale) or Terra Sol Nursery (Goleta, CA – retail). It is called “glazed Vietnamese pottery”. All the components are available at your local nursery or garden pottery store. Cost varies widely depending on what components you pick. This setting features a pot, a pond, a pump, and various fittings. (via Grace Design Associates)
16. Vintage Wagon With Potted Sunflowers.
This vintage wagon with potted sunflowers will provide a welcome sight in any small garden. Change up the colors in the wagon with the seasons. It can easily be wheeled around to other areas of your yard when you want to change up the look and feel of your garden. (via Garden Tech Horticultural Services)
17. Incorporate Garden Furniture.
Create a cozy respite in your garden with some outdoor furnishings. The table is a Vintage Foundry Mold that was spotted in a Flea Market in the San Francisco Bay Area. A glass top was ordered to fit. The ground cover is Baby Tears. The plant on the table is Echeveria “imbricata”. It is very easy to grow, just don’t over water. Brightly colored orange-yellow flowers grow on short stems above the rosettes. (via Antonio Martins Interior Design)
18. Make A Raised Garden Bed.
Make a raised bed in your small backyard garden, adding flowers, vegetables, or an herb garden. A small water feature adds a touch of zen to this intimate outdoor environment. (via Nature’s Realm)
19. Mix In Colorful Chairs.
Adding colorful furnishings will create a real impact on your small garden. They can be moved around as needed, and you can DIY inexpensive pieces with a can of spray paint. A mix of cottage roses (floribundas), Peruvian lily, catmint, dymondia, lambs ear, lemon tree, climbing rose on the arbor, and succulents in pots. At the top of the photo is a hedge of Pittosporum tenuifolium, perfect for adding privacy to your small garden. (via Grace Design Associates)
20. Put Up A Vertical Garden Planter.
Transform an upcycled palette into a vertical garden planter. This will provide a bright pop of color in your small garden and take up very little space. If you set it against your fence or privacy wall, it can be a focal point and a work of art! (via Amazing Craft Ideas)
21. Grow Your Own Herb Garden.
An herb garden on a stand is the perfect setup for a small garden. It can go anywhere: on your patio, balcony, courtyard, deck, or yard. This one is on a rooftop deck in Chicago, Illinois. Fill 8” terracotta pots with your favorite herbs to add delicious flavorings to your meals. The herb garden is set up using an irrigation system, the @amazingcarpathen drip irrigation system.
This is perfect for small pots that can dry quickly during warm summer. The water is set to every other day, although it can vary in the summer months. Fertilize twice a week with an all-purpose fertilizer. Some of the herbs include sweet basil, dill, lemon thyme, sage, rosemary, oregano, lemongrass, pesto basil, lemon balm, lavender, and parsley. (via @chicagogardener / Instagram)
22. Add Colorful Pots.
A cluster of pots can soften what might otherwise be severe architecture in addition to adding a pop of color. The flooring material is McNear red wirecut bricks in a herringbone pattern. The flowers in the containers, starting from left to right: Brown pot: pastel mix impatiens; Burgundy pot in the back: Endless summer hydrangea, white bacopa, rosebud impatiens, white nancy dead nettle; Terra cotta pot (right side of image): Dianthus caryophyllus (clove pink), Million Bells (Calibrachoa) tiki soft pink, echinacea pink double delight and purple campanula (bellflower).
Hydrangeas will survive year after year in a pot so long as the pot is large enough. The plant’s size depends on the variety of hydrangea you select. There are dwarf varieties (e.g., Cityline Rio Hydrangea) that only get 3′, while others can grow to 10′ tall and wide. The size of the pot required is dependent on the variety of hydrangea you select. The larger the plant, the larger the pot required. The decorative hanging planters can be found at Kinsman Company. The tree in the pot next to the chair is a ficus tree, which most people grow inside since they’re not very tolerant of cold weather. (via Casa Smith Designs)
23. Make A Tiered Fairy Garden.
This tiered fairy garden was made using galvanized tubs. This is a fun craft idea for grandparents to make with kids or a kid’s summer porch project. (via @creative_gardening1 / Instagram)
24. Small Garden Vignette.
Transform a corner of your garden into an inviting vignette with galvanized steel garden pots, a distressed wood table, and soft textiles. The lavender hedge in the backdrop produces a wonderful scent in the garden. (via Ember Gate / Pinterest)
25. Add A Garden Ladder.
Add a cozy corner to your small garden with the addition of an old step ladder. Add terracotta pots to each of the treads, filled with flowers such as pansies and viola. The flowers were sourced from @therosepressgarden. (via @the_little_end_cottage / Instagram)
26. Container Gardening.
Use pots and containers of various sizes to create a layered and dynamic garden like this one in Dublin, Ireland. To make a feature of this space, this Instagrammer planted clematis, creepers, and dotted potted plants outside the garden room and storage shed. A little trellis was made for the Virginia Creeper to grow over the door without obstructing it. (via @sixat21)
27. Corner Pergola Garden.
Create a cozy space in your backyard with potted plants surrounding a pergola-covered seating area. During the summer months, the pergola is covered in beautiful white flowers from the Clematis Avalanche growing up the cables. Additionally, purple flowers from the Wisteria will grow in the corner. The water fountain was sourced from @aquascape_inc. Get more details on how this DIY project came together at the provided link. (via @ourhomeonthefold / Instagram)
28. Make A Topiary Garden.
This cozy backyard deck features an array of topiaries and other lush greenery. The plants add captivating focal points, enhancing the deck’s aesthetic appeal and creating a serene atmopshere. (via @chipsgardens / Instagram)
29. A Magical Garden Room.
This small and charming garden is a brilliant example of what can be created within a tiny space. This magical garden room features a beautiful combination of plants and accessories. (via @the_tiny_listed_end_terrace)
30. Repurpose Crates For A Container Garden.
Salvaged wooden crates are given a new life as plant stands. Display your favorite plants in terracotta plants and planter baskets, the perfect way to add color to your small backyard garden. You can find repurposed crates at flea markets, thrift stores, Craigslist, and eBay, or you can try to source wine and liquor stores to repurpose a wine crate. (via @mycountrycottage / Instagram)
31. Create A Tapestry of Succulents.
This location is a frost-free zone on the California coast, and all these plants are frost-sensitive. The cabbage-looking cactus is aloe polyphylla, and the spiral is aloe. The veragated plant lower right is euphoriba ‘tasmanian tiger’. The bright orange plant is sedum ‘coppertone’. The red bloomer is an ivy geranium, and the purple is a Melaleuca tree. The stones are slate chips.
Succulent Tips: For indoor potting, you can usually buy a variety of soil in bags called ‘cactus mix’. This has a fine texture and is well drained, which succulent roots do well with. You can also use a standard variety of potting mix and cut it 50/50 with perlite or pumice to give it more aeration and drainage capacity. For watering, succulents appreciate a thorough soaking infrequently. You want to fully saturate the container, then let it approach dryness before watering again. The duration between watering is determined by your pots size, sun exposure, and indoor climate. This could range from once every couple of weeks to once every couple of months. The notion that succulents only like a sprinkle of water is misleading. Succulents do appreciate water; they are simply well adapted to do without it for longer periods. Succulent plants like the substrate to be hydrated completely and then have water drain away quickly. Soggy soil and rot (overwatering) will take a plant down far quicker than one that stays on the dryer side. (via Gardens by Gabriel)
32. Make A Dreamy Summer Garden.
Add a small potting shed to your garden and decorate around it with climbing vines and containers in terracotta and galvanized pots. There is Constance Spry rose over at the pergola next to the shed and some foxgloves in the containers. There are three plants in each pot for the foxgloves. (via @mycountrycottage / Instagram)
33. Whiskey Barrel Planter.
A whiskey barrel planter is tipped over sideways with flowers spilling out. The flowers are Pansies. They’re an annual available in Spring as they prefer cooler weather. (via Integrity Residential Services)
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